Former Tennessee defensive back Inquoris “Inky” Johnson had his promising football career come to an abrupt end after suffering an injury against Air Force in 2006, which left his right arm completely paralyzed. His lifelong dream of playing in the NFL was over.

Since that fateful day, Johnson has become an inspirational speaker. In the video below, he tells the story of how he overcame the injury and now uses it as a positive to influence others.

The video of Johnson has received massive attention on Twitter in recent days, even connecting with former star LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who is recovering from an ACL injury he sustained with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

“I think it kind of shocked a lot of people that I was able to handle the situation the way I handled it,” Johnson said in an interview with UTSports.com’s Josh Pate in 2011. “People were coming into the room and were all sad because of everything that happened, all down on their spirits and low. I just had to let them know that I was going to be all right. There’s a life after this. Life goes on. Whatever God puts in your life, you’ve got to embrace it and keep going.”

Johnson has found a way to keep making an impact away from the football field.

“That’s a huge honor that I thank God for,” Johnson told the website. “That’s what my life is about, leaving a legacy. That comes in every aspect of my life, not just in the sports arena. It comes with carrying myself like a man with integrity and character. It comes with treating others the way I would like to be treated. It comes with showing other people respect.”